Three Minnesotans Entered in Meet in London Olympic Stadium

The July 26-28 Sainsbury's Anniversary Games in London's Olympic Stadium gives three Minnesotans who weren't there for the 2012 Games a chance to run on the Olympic track.  Gabriele Anderson, fresh off her PR at Monaco, will run the 1500 with US teammate Mary Cain on Friday.  On Saturday Hassan Mead will be in the 3K with Olympic double gold medalist Mo Farah.

Garrett Heath will also be running Saturday in the Emsley Carr Mile.  That race has a storied history as it has been won by some of the greatest milers of all time.  It was created in 1953 as an event that hopefully would produce the first sub-four minute mile.  Roger Bannister did that in his "home" track at Oxford in 1954, however, and never did run the Emsley Carr Mile.

Near Miss, But No Qualifying Mark for Amanda Smock; Podominick continues Moscow Prep

Photo by Becky Miller

Saturday was the last day for US athletes to get the qualifying standard for entry into the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.  None of the US women triple jumpers had made the standard through the US Championships, so Amanda Smock and the other jumpers tried to get the elusive qualifying mark.  Smock jumped in Chula Vista and Budapest, improving on each competition, but didn't make it.

"After Budapest, I competed at Ljubljana, Lahti, and Chula Vista" said Smock.  "Two of those were really poor performances, and the third was good. I had 5 13.79/13.78m jumps and a foul that they measured out of curiosity where the actual jump distance was 14.18m. Close to where I need to be but I didn't get the 14.20m qualifying mark by the USA 7/20 deadline. If only we followed IAAF set deadline and I had until the 29th. Darn!"

The Chula Vista meet results from July 19 can be found HERE. 14.18m(46'6.5") is Smock's PR, which she set in 2011 at Chula Vista in her successful attempt to qualify for the IAAF World Champs. The US will send no female triple jumpers to Moscow.  Liz Podominick also threw at the Chula Vista meet as prep for the World Championships, taking second with a toss of 192'1"(58.55m).

Youth Triumphs at Hopkins

Youth triumphed at the Hopkins Raspberry Festival races on Sunday.  The Klecker brothers--John and Joe--went one, two in the 5-Mile and Justin Grunewald won the Main Street Mile.  John Klecker ran 24:47 on an unusually "cool" day for the Hopkins race.  Joe ran 25:02.  Grunewald won the mile in 4:19. For the women Maria Hauger won the 5-Mile in 27:18, while Mary Klecker was first in the mile in 5:21.

Masters runner Lance Elliott was third in the mile in 4:32.  Hauger was 11th overall in the 5-Mile. Mary Klecker was tenth overall in the mile. Defending women's mile champion, Masters runner Amy Halseth, finished 13th in the mile in 5:29.  Full results are available HERE.

Registration Lottery for Medtronic TC 10 Mile Extended Through Monday

The registration lottery for the 2013 Medtronic TC 10 Mile has been extended to Monday, July 22, at 11:59 p.m.  Twin Cities In Motion officials extended the lottery, which was set for Friday at 11:59 p.m., to accommodate runners who did not receive the email announcing the lottery’s opening on July 10. To honor the race’s many loyal participants who have made the celebrated fall event a tradition, Twin Cities In Motion has changed the deadline to allow sufficient time to register.

The lottery selects runners for the popular event to be held on October 6 in conjunction with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Runners interested in entering the lottery may do so by visiting the Twin Cities In Motion website, tcmevents.org.  Runners will learn their entry status on Tuesday, July 23.

The 2013 Medtronic TC 10 Mile is limited to 9700 runners.

Olson, McGee Win Park Point 5

It was a mixture of youth and experience in the 42nd running of the Park Point 5-Mile Friday night in Duluth.  Alec Olson , 19, of Excelsior, MN, won the men's race in 25:47, defeating three-time past champion Eric Hartmark, who placed second in 26:08. For the women, Duluth’s Katie McGee, 40, claimed the title with a time of 32:08. The victory was her sixth at the event.

A total of 457 runners and 38 walkers registered for the event with 406 finishing the 5-Mile ― northern Minnesota’s oldest road race. Youth races for children 14 and under accompanied the 5-mile run and two-mile walk. Net proceeds from the Park Point 5-Miler benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma’s Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics.

 MEN

 Place     Name                                    Age        City                        State     Time

1              Alec Olson                           19           Excelsior              MN        25:47

2              Eric Hartmark                     35           Duluth                  MN        26:08

3              Scott Behling                      23           Duluth                  MN        27:01

4              Adam Swank                      37           Duluth                  MN        27:27

5              Kyle Economy                    21           Victoria                 MN        27:57

6              Mark Harries                      20           Plymouth            MN        27:59

7              Matt Lepisto                      18           Duluth                  MN        28:59

8              Paul Behrens                     30           Duluth                  MN        29:44

9              Kirt Goetzke                       52           Plymouth            MN        29:53

10           Benjamin Hanson            18           Esko                       MN        30:08

 WOMEN

Place     Name                                    Age        City                        State     Time

1              Katie McGee                      40           Duluth                  MN        32:08

2              Kelsi Upmann                    24           Duluth                  MN        33:52

3              Emily Matack                     32           Duluth                  MN        34:10

4              Janet Rosen                       59           Cloquet                MN        34:54

5              Kathi Madden                   55           Duluth                  MN        35:01

6              Anja Maijala                       14           Wrenshall            MN        35:15

7              Erika Fox                              14           Carlton                 MN        35:15

8              Chandra Shoberg             29           Duluth                  MN        35:19

9              Amy Dettmer                    41           Grand Rapids     MN        35:46

10           Amy Carlsen                       37           Eden Prairie        MN        36:11

Raspberry Run Celebrates More Than the Berry

Time for the raspberries.  Sunday the Hopkins Raspberry Run 5 Mile will be held in Hopkins.  Below is something of a trip down memory lane.  The race was started in 1964 by Pat and Emily Lanin for the Twin Cities Track Club.  It became in the early years the summer road race that attracted the top runners in the area:  Van Nelson, Garry Bjorklund, Steve Hoag, Ron Daws, Mike Slack, Dick Beardsley, Bob Kempainen were but a few of the Olympians and champion runners who ran the course around Shady Lake and finished down  Main Street in Hopkins.

There was no prize money, no post race banquet of sponsor products.  Just hot, hilly racing on a course laid out not for speed but to finish up on Main Street where the Raspberry Festival Parade took place.  It reflected the Midwest farming tradition  where you have Corn Days and other such events that celebrate "Breadbasket" agriculture.  As he did for Grandma's Bjorklund told any runners he knew that if you were going to run a road race in Minnesota, you should do the Raspberry Run.  The winners didn't get medals, but rather a solid silver bowl.  Though it no doubt seems foreign to runners of this era, when the race began, there were no race T-shirts.  That "inovation" was brought to Minnesota by the Raspberry race in 1975.

Like the silver bowl that, when left out in the air and not regularly polished, races can show their age.  But Mike Reneau and the Twin Cities Track Club are attempting to build it back to a place fitting its past traditions.  So, if you want to get back to the roots of Minnesota road racing, Hopkins is a good place to start.  Below is some of its history.  If you're so inclined and are either old and or have a good memory, you can take the quiz listed on some of the photos below.  Just reply in the Comments section.

The start of the 1977 Hopkins Raspberry Festival 5 Mile. Photo by Anne
Kelly

Here's a new quiz.  Who are these guys?  The guy in the University of
Minnesota singlet wearing number 563?  The guy next to him with the
flowing hair with the only visible number 7.  And The guy behind
the runner wearing number 143 with the number 2 visible
on his shorts?  Photo by Jim Ferstle

The finish of the race. Notice the "high tech"
announcer's stand--the Ford truck with
the guy with the megaphone.
Photo by Jim Ferstle

This is what they ran for back then.  A silver bowl that hasn't been polished
in some time.  We all show our age as the years go past.

Gabriele Anderson Sets PR in Monaco 1500; Kipp Gets Qualifier in Steeple, Cheever Sixth

Americans dominated the 1500 at the Monaco IAAF Diamond League Meet Friday with defending World Champion Jenny Simpson using a 59.30 final lap to win in 4:00.48.  Team USA Minnesota's Gabriele Anderson finished fifth, fourth American, in a three second PR of 4:01.48.

In the final race of the meet, US's Shalayla Kipp ran a season's best of 9:37.23 in fourth place in the 3000 Steeplechase to book her trip to Moscow for the World Championships.  Jamie Cheever finished sixth in 9:49.48.

News Bits

How do you cap off a Euro Tour with no losses and several PRs?  Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf will return to the US and the road mile circuit.  She'll return to the Ryan Shay Mile on July 27 in Charlevoix, Michigan to defend her title.

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At Sunday's Hopkins Raspberry Festival Main Street Mile, the possibility exists of a Masters champion in both the men's and women's races.  Lance Elliott faces the " youngsters" in the men's race, while two-time reigning women's mile champ, Masters runner  Amy Halseth, will go for the trifecta.

Liz Podominick Getting ready for Moscow

Liz Podominick continues her preparation for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.  In her first competition since the USATF Championships, Podominick threw 201'1.75"(61.31m) in the OTC Pre-World 12 Meet at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista on Wednesday.  She was second in the two woman field, as  Ashley Witney Threw 203'.5" for first.  Results for the event are HERE.

The Oregonian story on the difficulties of attempting to be a "professiional" track athlete, especially in certain events, such as the throws is HERE.

Yes/No: Will Lance Elliott win the Hopkins Raspberry Run Mile?

Most runners in Minnesota are familiar with the Hopkins Raspberry Run 5 mile race.  It has been around since 1964 and many top Minnesota runners have graced the leader board over the years.  Runners may not be as aware of the Main Street Mile, started in 2010 as a companion to the longer 5 mile Raspberry Run.  The Main Street Mile is a flat, straight course that shares a finish area with the 5 miler.

The race has been won in 4:22 each of the last two years by young local runners.  John Lapham won in 2011 and Josh Thorson took the title last year.  This year, masters superstar Lance Elliot is going to join the fray.  His best mile as a masters runner also happens to be 4:22.

Will youth or experience triumph at the Main Street Mile?  Let us know what you think...

Yes/No: Will Lance Elliott win the Main Street Mile at the Hopkins Raspberry Run on Sunday?

Lance Elliot continues to run very fast times in middle distance races.  His latest results came from the USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week.  He ran the 800 in 2:00.85 and the 1500 in 4:14.84.  Elliot lists his masters bests at 4:02 for 1500 and 4:22 for the mile.  In college, he ran 3:45 for 1500 and 4:04 for the mile.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:59 A.M. CDT, Sunday, July 21st.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will there be two or more Minnesotans that finish in the top three in the M70 1500 meters at the Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships?  The answer was no - Minnesotans took three of the top five spots, but they ended up second, fourth and fifth.  Sherwood Sagedahl led the way with a second place run, finishing in 5:54.   Thirteen people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with fifteen points.  Pat Foley and Jim Glazer are next in line with thirteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Will Leer Feature

Sarah Barker's piece on Will Leer is HERE.

Morton Games/Morton Mile/Mead Runs PR

Things can change fast in Europe as athletes switch when new opportunities open up or close.  Will Leer and Ben Blankenship ran in Italy yesterday, and aren't in the Morton Mile in Dublin today.  Hassan Mead, however, is running the 3K and hoping for a PR.

Mead ran 7:46.18 for third in the 3K, a PR, the second time he's improved on his best at the distance.  He'll get a chance to make that a triple when he runs the event in London on July 26.

Kampf, Cheever Blog Updates

Heather Kampf updates her blog with wrap up on USATF Championships in Des Moines HERE. Jamie Cheever's blog updates on Europe trip is HERE.

Gopher's Te'Shon Adderley on Her Long Season

Minnesota Daily story on 800 runner Te'Shon Adderley is HERE.

Kampf Wins 800, Blankenship the 1500, Both PR

Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf just keeps chipping away at the two-minute barrier as she won the 800 at the meet in Lignano International Meeting of Athletics on Tuesday in 2:00.04, a new PR and a blink away from breaking two minutes. US runners took the top three spots.  Full 800 results are HERE. In the men's 1500 Gopher and Stillwater grad Ben Blankenship won in 3:37.03, a PR by.20 seconds.

Will Leer finished fourth in 3:37.77 in the1500, as the US took the top six places.  In the women's 1500, Gabrielie Anderson paced the race for 800 meters in preparation for the Monaco IAAF Diamond League Meet on Friday. Men's 1500 result is HERE.  Women's is HERE.  Blankenship e-mailed from Europe of the race: "Had an absolute blast.  If you think the bugs are bad in Minnesota, you should've seen the track last night."

Gopher alum Peter Miller Named New Women's Throw Coach

Peter Miller has joined the University of Minnesota women’s track and field staff as an assistant coach for throws, program director Matt Bingle announced today. Miller, a former Golden Gopher student-athlete, will replace recently retired assistant coach Lynne Anderson.

“I am very excited to announce the hiring of Peter Miller as our next throws coach at the University of Minnesota,” Bingle said. “He will bring a great deal of energy to our program and a blue collar attitude to our staff. We are happy to have Peter on board and we are looking forward to the future.”

Miller returns to his alma mater after two seasons as the throws coach for the University of North Dakota men’s and women’s teams.  During the 2013 season, UND’s first year in the Big Sky Conference, he coached two student-athletes to all-conference honors. The UND throwing group also fielded its first two NCAA West Preliminary Round competitors.

In 2012, Miller’s throwers broke eight school records and won three Great West Conference titles. Chantel Urban earned GWC Freshman of the Year accolades after three top-five conference championship finishes under Miller’s tutelage. In addition to his success as a coach, Miller also helped facilitate the addition of a hammer cage to UND’s practice facilities. 

Prior to his arrival at UND, Miller coached throws and combined events at Wisconsin-River Falls for three years. He mentored NCAA Division III meet qualifiers, including a third-place finisher, throughout his tenure. UWRF’s women’s javelin throwers posted a 1-2 finish at the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, and the men’s hammer and weight throwers broke school records.

During two seasons coordinating the Falcons' strength and conditioning program, Miller's student-athletes broke 27 school records and earned 13 All-America awards. He was also heavily involved in track and field winter camps as both a director and instructor, and coordinated the UWRF track program's $10,000-per-year fundraising efforts.

Miller captained the Gopher track and field team as a senior. He earned three letters and three Academic All-Big Ten selections, along with five University of Minnesota Scholar Student-Athlete awards. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2008 and is pursuing a master’s in business administration.

USA Masters Championships Wrap Up

By Tom Langenfeld

Minnesotans captured 18 individual medals – five of them gold – at the USATF National Masters Championships Thursday through Sunday in Olathe, Kansas.

The gold medalists:          

Sherwood Sagedahl (M74) of Fairmont first in the M70 pentathlon on Thursday with a score of 3,612, believed to be the second highest M70 total ever behind the record of 3,806 he set in the national meet last year.  His performances in the five events this year were 3.67m (595 points) in the long jump, 33.88m (692) in the javelin, 30.26 (773) in the 200m, 31.48m (669) in the discus, and 5:52.74 (883) in the 1500m.  

In subsequent action in Olathe, Sagedahl was second in the open 1500m (5:54.64), second in the javelin (33.57m), fourth in the 400m (67.25) and fifth in the 200m (31.53).

Paul Lykken (M51), Owatonna, first in the M50 javelin (57.08m/187-3), bettering his Minnesota age group record.

Shawn Hipp (W56), Little Canada, first in the M55 80 hurdles (17.17), equaling her Minnesota age group record.

Chris Cohen (M44), Chanhassen, first in the M40 110m hurdles (18.59).

Tom Langenfeld (M77), Edina, first in the M75 high jump (1.40/4-7 – age-graded as the top performance in any of the 12 men’s high jump age groups at 98.7%).

Other individual medal winners:

Thom Weddle (M74), Minneapolis, second in both the M70 2000m steeplechase  (10:00.79) and the 5000m (24:40.35), fifth in the1500m (6:20.52).

Robert Jones (M51), White Bear Lake, second in the M50 hammer (48.34m/158-70), fifth in both the shot put (12.14m/39-10) and discus 45.80m/150-3).

Peter Haack (M38), La Crescent, second in the M35 400m (53.23)

David Lindenberg (M34), Minneapolis, second in the submasters M30 pole vault (4.40m/14-5).

Jim Schoffman (M60), Fridley, third in both the M60 400m (60.01) and 800m (2:22.74), fourth in both the 200m (27.01) and 100m (13.45).  The 100m, 200m and 400m times all better  listed Minnesota M60 age group records, although Schoffman has a pending 400m record of under 60 seconds.  The 100m and 200m finals were both run into strong headwinds.

Susan Loyd (55), Edina, third in the W55 100m (15.76), 200m (32.60) – both into potent headwinds – and 400m (73.37).  Also fifth in the shot put (6.66m/21-10).

Jerome Montgomery (M33), Woodbury, third in the submasters M30 200m (23.82).

Others among the leaders:  

Lance Elliott (M42), Edina, fourth in both the M40 800m (2:00.85) and 1500m (4:14.84). 

Rick Kleyman (M73), Plymouth, fourth in the M70 1500m (6:18.71).

Also in action:  

Phil Rogosheski (M68), Saint Cloud, fifth in both the 5000m racewalk (31:57.34) and 10000m racewalk (1:05:12.10); 

Brian Lundberg (M47), Edina, sixth in the M45 800m (2:18.59) and ninth in the 100m (4:54.51); 

Rick Allen (M56), Richfield, seventh in the M55 high jump (1.50m/4-11) and eighth in the long jump (4.64m/15-2½); 

Paul Montgomery (M67), Woodbury, seventh in the M65 200m (31.13); and 

Tim Ryan (M53), Vadnais Heights, seventh in the M50 triple jump (9.52m/31-2¾).

High School XC Ratings

Seems a bit premature, but XC Nation has issued its Pre-season high school girls XC team rankings.  Wayzata is ranked tenth and EAgan 25th.  Full listing of the top 25 is HERE. Minnesota also has two teams in the boys' rankings.  Wayzata is ranked 13th and Perham 25th.  Full boys list is HERE.

Racing News

Seven Team USA Minnesota distance runners – Andrew Carlson, Antonio Vega, Jon Peterson, Ben Sathre, Meghan Peyton, Ladia Albertson-Junkans and McKenzie Melander – will participate in the Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K in downtown Minneapolis on July 17.  A field of over 5,000 will run in the 7:30 p.m. event which is part of the City of Minneapolis’ annual Aquatennial Festival.

The run starts on Hennepin Avenue and 16th Street and finishes at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park along the Minneapolis riverfront.  The evening running event – which will be followed by a post-race party – is held just prior to the Torchlight Parade on the same route.

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Twin Cities In Motion (TCM), the organizers of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, launched a unique racing event called the TC Urban Dash scheduled for August 10, 2013, that will have participants exploring Minneapolis’ North Loop for a distance estimated at between four to six miles.

TCM and GearJunkie, along with FITSOK, have developed the event in which two and four-person teams will weave through the North Loop led by clues to hotspots worth points in the competition. Winning teams will earn free entry into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile contested during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend.

The TC Urban Dash will conclude at North Loop Fest, where participants will be eligible for raffle prizes including two Soleus GPS 2.0 Running Watches valued at $149 each, ten TC Running Company $50 gift certificates, and two head-to-toe Brooks running outfits for men and women each. 

All participants will receive a 3-Pack of NEOPOP FITSOKs, a GU energy gel, a Soleus Dash running watch, entry into the North Loop Fest, a free beer at the Post Race Party, and guaranteed entry into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Complete details on the event can be found at tcmevents.org.

                                                                **********

The 42^nd running of the Park Point 5-Miler – northern Minnesota’s oldest road race – is set for Friday, July 19. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with youth races for children 14 and under, followed by a two-mile walk at 6:15 p.m., and then the five-mile feature race at 6:30 p.m.

Online pre-registration for is available through Thursday at www.GrandmasMarathon.com or www.YoungAthletesFoundation.com. Those choosing to sign up on race day should visit the pavilion at the end of Park Point between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The pre-registration entry fee is $25 for the five-mile run and two-mile walk and $35 on race day. The youth races are free.

All finishers in the run and walk will receive a commemorative T-shirt, and awards will be presented to the top participants at an award ceremony following the five-mile run. Ribbons will be awarded to youth race participants upon completion of their event.

Participants are encouraged to plan extra travel time to Park Point to ensure they arrive on time for their event. For the safety of race participants, Minnesota Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Net proceeds from the Park Point 5-Miler benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma’s Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics.

Masters M70 1500 Results

In the M70 1500 Sherwood Sagedahl finished second in 5:54.64, Rick Kleyman was fourth in 6:18.71, and Thom Weddle came in fifth in 6:20.52